Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Wet Slabs and Loose Wet.

DH, Avalanche Canada

Glacier.

Human triggering will be likely until the snowpack has refrozen

Warm weather and widespread avalanches have left difficult and hazardous backcountry travel conditions

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

A large natural avalanche cycle was observed on all aspects and elevations lasting from Sunday until Tuesday morning with some avalanches running full path and many gouging deeply in confined gullies. Recent avalanche control within and adjacent to the park produced numerous large avalanches up to size 3.5, some showing wide propagation.

A remote trigger adjacent to the west end of Glacier NP resulted in a sz 3.5 running from the Alpine to valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

The recent warm weather and rain has left the upper snowpack wet and weak making for difficult and hazardous travel at all elevations/aspects.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 60-80cm, can be found at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects. Recent avalanches have been stepping down to this layer and deeper within confined gullies.

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer, down ~120cm, is decomposing.

Weather Summary

The warm weather will linger for another day or two before temperatures and freezing levels gradually lower into the weekend.

Thurs: Cloudy with isolated showers or flurries. High 3°C. Winds S light. FZL 2500m.

Fri: Cloudy with isolated flurries. High 1°C. FZL 2100m.

Sat: Cloudy with scattered flurries. High -3°C. FZL 1500m

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

Problems

Wet Slabs

20+cm of sticky wet snow and warm temperatures have created a heavy, wet slab that is reactive at all elevations on unsupported rolls and cross-loaded features. Recent avalanches have been occurring in this layer and skiing/riding is extremely difficult.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Wet

Expect loose snow avalanches in steep terrain as freezing levels remain high. As these avalanches gather mass, they could potentially step down to deeper layers within the snowpack.